In Ashley Lo’s blog, More Than Speaking the Same “Language”, she stated that:
The key to international success [in a business] lies in their understanding of [the] cultures… [that are] present in their respective target markets.
This idea led me to think critically about more than just the marketing aspect of varying cultures, but also of the cultures within a workforce. It is important as a business to adopt several notions from people with diverse experiences, broader points of views, and from different ethnic backgrounds.
In an article from The Globe and Mail:
“Fostering a work culture that emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion is a business imperative, not just a moral or ethical one.”- Mary Ann Yule
It shows that companies can attract more authentic and meaningful relationships with their customers through diversified leadership inside a business. The awareness of a corporation to eliminate cultural bias will ultimately strengthen their position in the market to grow innovatively.
Marketing to Different Cultures
It is true from Ashley’s point of view that a range of commercial content tend to be based on the values that each international market and their consumers have. However, in a market like Canada’s, there is a wide social difference. Each marketing approach by companies will affect certain ethnic groups differently, and it is of significance to take on these challenges head-on by recognizing and accepting diversity.
Reinventing the Unconscious Bias in the Workforce
Business leaders are faced with the fact that hiring is ambiguous. Although it is imperative that businesses are inclusive of various cultures in their workforce because they drive new business, fuel innovation, and attract talent that’s useful in a corporation; however, as these videos emphasize, unconscious bias is everywhere.
In conclusion, the vast controversies surrounding non-diversified companies illustrate the importance of being an inclusive corporation. The ability for a company to attract and understand their audience, especially in a multicultural market like Canada’s, relies on the varying points of views of several like-minded or non-like-minded people. It attracts top industry talent and help businesses connect with customers on more than just assumptions, but through a better understanding of their customer segments. “Cultures and values are so unique,” as Ashley commented on her blog, and it reflects how races, ethnicities, religion and sexual orientation can affect the market’s preferences. The ability to market to these individuals is just as important as including them in the business’ workforce. Moreover, it is authentic, meaningful and distinctive of a company to reinvent themselves based on the diversity of their company and the customers they offer their products to. By embracing qualities of variety, businesses have the potential to grow and innovate.
Word Count: 445
References:
HP. 2017, April. Let’s Get in Touch | Reinvent Mindsets | HP. Retrieved from Youtube
Life at Google. (2014) Unconscious Bias @ Work – Making the Unconscious Conscious. Retrieved from Youtube
Lo, A. 2017, October 14. More Than Speaking The Same “Language”. Retrieved from UBC Blogs
Moses, R. 2015, August 12. Crowded City Street. Retrieved from Rob Moses Photography
Yule, M. A. 2017, October 26. Why Diversity and Inclusion Leadership is About More Than Meeting Numbers. Retrieved from The Globe and Mail
